As the COVID-19 crisis persists, many of our patients have found themselves stuck at home and unable to attend their dental hygiene appointments. As your trusted dentist in Knoxville, TN, we wanted to provide you with some suggestions on how you can continue to care for your smile while at home. Here are three great snacks to keep around for your dental health:
Cheese
Cubed cheese, sliced cheese, or string cheese make great convenient cheese snacks to keep around your home. You can reach for these whenever the cravings hit you, and your teeth will thank you for it. Cheese is full of calcium, which means that it keeps your teeth strong and healthy. Additionally, calcium helps your jawbone remain supportive as it holds your teeth in place. Cheese is also a softer snack, which makes it perfect for TMJ patients or patients with jaw pain. Unlike crunchier snacks, cheese will not put extra strain on your jawbone and facial muscles as you chew it.
Fruit Smoothies
Fruit smoothies are fun to make, and great for your dental health too. You can add in any kind of your favorite fruits to your smoothies, but we do have some recommendations. Throw in some banana to increase the amount of potassium in your smoothie. Potassium is necessary to your dental health because it helps reduce the acidity in your blood, ensuring that calcium reaches your bones and teeth as it should. Include strawberries or kiwis for extra vitamin C. Vitamin C is important to your dental health because it helps your mouth fight off harmful infections like gum disease. You can even include a cup of yogurt in your smoothie to increase the calcium amount and also add creaminess to the texture.
Almonds, Cashews, or Walnuts
When you crave a crunchy snack, try reaching for a bowl of nuts instead of a bowl of potato chips. Nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts contain the necessary vitamins and minerals that your body needs to remain healthy. Additionally, they help with saliva production which keeps your mouth moist and ready to wash away residues left behind on your teeth. Be careful when chewing this snack though, and avoid it if you have been experiencing jaw pain.
Schedule An Appointment
Today’s Dentistry is the office of Knoxville dentist Dr. Pamela Cain. We provide comprehensive dental services for adult patients in the Hardin Valley, TN area who are looking to achieve optimal functional and aesthetic results. Using the latest techniques in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, we are able to improve the comfort, beauty, and function of our patient’s smiles. Please contact us directly about scheduling your next dental appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon.
